PRESS RELEASE

PATHATRIX® AUTO Is launched by Matrix MicroScience at IAFP 2009, Grapevine, Texas

MATRIX MicroScience Inc., (Golden, CO) launched its latest fully automated PATHATRIX® AUTO to an invited audience of world leading scientists, at the IAFP 96th Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas on 12th July 2009.

PATHATRIX® AUTO is the ultimate high volume immuno-magenetic separation method for the rapid detection of a range of pathogens and spoilage organisms from a wide range of complex sample matrices. Using paramagnetic particles either antibody coated or electronically charged PATHATRIX® selectively binds and concentrates the target organism from a wide range of complex matrices found in food, environmental and bio-threat samples.

PATHATRIX® uses unique patented technology to analysis large sample volumes by re-circulating the entire sample over a "capture phase" where the paramagnetic particles have been immobilised. The target organisms are capture by the beads then cleaned and concentrated automatically by PATHATRIX®. The purified organisms are then available for analysis by a wide variety of detection methods e.g. direct selective agar plates, PCR, Lateral Flow or ELISA….

Benefits

• Fully automatic - at the push of a button, with a 15 minute run time
• High sample throughput - 150 sample per hour
• High volume sample - 10-60 ml
• Common protocols - Minimal training
• Can be coupled easily to a variety of detection methods e.g. PCR, ELISA, Lateral Flow, agar plates etc

Dr Adrian. Parton, C.E.O. of Matrix MicroScience commented "We are extremely excited to launch the PATHATRIX® AUTO after conducting extensive market research with our customers to address their needs. PATHATRIX® AUTO is flexible, accurate, cost effective and can be linked directly to the major end point detection systems making it simple to implement in any laboratory."

Matrix MicroScience
Matrix is a highly innovative company focused on the development of diagnostics for the rapid detection of food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp. Cronobacter spp. MAP and E.coli O157. Matrix has achieved multiple AOAC RI approvals for a range of its products. Matrix MicroScience is an international organization with offices, research and production facilities in Denver, USA, and Newmarket, UK.

Background Notes for Editors

1. PATHATRIX® AUTO

The PATHATRIX® AUTO system requires less than one minute hands-on time per test and utilises a proven technology, which can be adopted in any microbiology laboratory, with the minimum of retraining. Viable cultures are produced during the test allowing full and detailed analysis of any positive results.

PATHATRIX® is unique in that it is the only microbial detection system that can analyse large volumes of sample, by re-circulating the sample through a "capture phase" where the antibody coated magnetic beads are immobilised.

A standard 25-375g food sample is homogenised with 225-1000ml of growth media in a stomacher and incubated (4 -18hours). Post pre-enrichment PATHATRIX® capture reagent, which consists of antibody coated magnetic particles specific to the target pathogen, are then added to the sample. The sample is loaded onto the PATHATRIX® cartridge using a Matrix proprietary consumable pack, then the cartridge is inserted into the PATHATRIX® system and the process is started by the touch of a button.

Once loaded, the PATHATRIX® workstation is typically pre-programmed to run for15 minutes..

The sample can now be plated directly onto selective media and incubated overnight for visualization the following morning or be directly analyzed by PCR, ELISA or Lateral Flow for a very rapid result.

There are a variety of PATHATRIX® tests that enable results to be obtained within as little as 5hrs to 24hrs from point of sample to result.

2. PATHATRIX Pooling

PATHATRIX® pooling involves taking 10ml sub-samples from 5 individual samples, pooling them to create a 50ml pooled sample which can then be analyzed by a single PATHATRIX® run (see figure below). If the sample is "positive" the original individual samples can be re-tested separately by PATHATRIX® to determine which sample(s) is/are positive. However if the wet composite sample is shown to be negative no further analysis of the 5 original samples is required. Thus the PATHATRIX® pooling approach can be used as a rapid and cost effective screen for all samples. The Pooling strategy can be employed up to a maximum of 10 samples.